So at the Oregon Zoo, where a male Asian elephant calf was born Aug. 23, keepers have scoured dictionaries and other sources, searching for an appropriate name. Something that reflects the species' geographical origins.

Something that helps visitors remember that wild elephants range in shrinking swaths of habitat, which are worthy of attention and care. And, frankly, they'd like a catchy name.

The zoo doesn't name all its animals. Penguins, for instance, have names. Lorikeets don't. Bugs, no. Bob the python, yes.

Linda D'Ae-Smith, a spokeswoman, said naming the newest member of the elephant herd will help visitors connect to an animal that the zoo hopes will serve as an ambassador for his wild counterparts.

Such a gargantuan task, however, requires help.

Yours.

For the next week, the public can vote online for favorite names winnowed down by elephant keepers.

The contenders:Amul: Hindi for priceless or of inestimable worth. Bao: Chinese for precious treasure. Duc (rhymes with hook): Vietnamese for good, moral, desire. Plus, the zoo notes, it makes up a fraction of Kevin Duckworth's name, and might honor the former Trail Blazer player, who died last month. Hugo-Tu: The name would honor the calf's mother, Rose-Tu, and maternal grandfather, Hugo, from the Germanic, meaning mind, heart or spirit. Tu is Vietnamese for tree.
Samudra (nickname Sam): Hindi for lord of the ocean. The calf apparently loves his baths.

Cast your vote at www.oregonzoo.org. The zoo will accept votes through 5 p.m. Thursday and will announce the winning name Friday.

Oh, and about that baby: Friday, he weighed in at just over 300 pounds, up from his 286-pound birth weight. Zoo visitors typically can see the fuzzy little fellow in the elephant barn between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.